Counterbalance hinge



- Nov. 24,: 1970 R, NDU SHAN JR, m1. 3,541,632

COUNTERBALANCE HINGE V Fil d March 25, 1968 N 1/5 A/ TOPS FRANK A HOLMES RA vmo/vo M DU5HAMS; J/e,

' "B Y MAHOA/EY 8.- fiaeA/aA K52 0 wV/f United States Patent 3,541,632 COUNTERBALANCE HINGE Raymond N. DuShane, Jr., Fullerton, and Frank A.

Holmes, La Hahra, Calif., assignors to Ajax Hardware Manufacturing Corp., City of Industry, Calif.,

a corporation of California Filed Mar. 25, 1968, Ser. No. 715,732 Int. Cl. E05d 11/08 U.S. Cl. 16-140 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A first hinge leaf mounts a resiliently radially expansible sleeve, preferably axially split and spring metal. A preferably plastic plunger is movable axially within, but radially frictionally engaged by the sleeve, said plunger being connected through an arm pivotally to a second hinge leaf for movement therewith within said sleeve. The first hinge leaf may be offset from the second with the plunger connecting arm movable through an opening in the offsetting portion. Also, the sleeve may have varying internal diameters along the axial length thereof providing varying frictional retardation for the plunger during movement along the sleeve.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION movement is deliberately frictionally retarded. More specifically, this invention relates to a counterbalance hinge of the foregoing type for use with cabinets, chests and the like wherein the hinge may be mounted hingedly connecting cabinet doors or chest lids and includes particularly formed counterbalance means thereon for deliberately frictionally retarding the hinged movement of the doors or lids such that said doors or lids may be moved to any given hinged position and will remain in said position until a deliberate force is applied moving the same therefrom.

There are many occasions where it is desirable to provide cabinets or chests with doors or lids which are hingedly movable between open and closed positions, yet despite such hinged movement, it is further desirable to provide the same with completely counterbalanced movement, that is, when released at any point during such hinged movement, such position will be retained. For instance, in the case of cabinets and chests for modern electronic sound equipment, chest-type freezers, residential and commercial desks, or trunks, merely as examples, it is desirable to provide hingedly connected lids therefor which are perfectly counterbalanced in said hinged movement so that the particular lid may be moved any degree toward fully open position, released and will remain exactly in said position without danger of accidentally reclosing.

Various prior forms of counterbalancing hinges have been heretofore provided in an attempt to satisfy the foregoing conditions and needs. All such prior constructions, however, have included certain inherent difficulties and disadvantages, either from the expense or maintenance standpoints.

One such prior form has included oppositely acting springs incorporated in the hinge construction, each spring being opposed to the other and being required to exert an exactly equal opposite force to the other during the hinged movement. Obviously, the provision of springs having virtually equal oppositely acting forces required for the proper operation of such a counterbalance hinge construtcion requires springs of an extremely precise nature, making the provision thereof quite expensive. Furice thermore, even though such springs are precisely formed, it is almost impossible to form such springs having the proper counterbalancing forces throughout the effective ranges thereof.

Other prior forms of counterbalance hinges have included various pressure members arranged to be effective for retarding hinged movement of a particular hinge and, thereby, maintaining the hinge in a stationary position when the moving force thereon is terminated. To our knowledge, all such pressure members have included various forms of threaded adjustment members required to be originally properly adjusted to give the desired hinged movement retardation and required to be readjusted from time to time, for maintaining the proper pressure. Thus, these prior counterbalance hinges not only include the disadvantage of relatively high expense for the provision of the adjustment means therefor, but also include the disadvantage of requiring maintenance at intervals during the life thereof to insure proper functioning.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide a counterbalance hinge which serves a proper counterbalancing function in use with cabinets, chests and the like, yet is of extremely simplified construction, far more simple than has heretofore been possible and is serviceable over a long useful life. According to the present invention, the counterbalancing function is provided in a somewhat conventional hinge by use of a resiliently, radially expansible sleeve mounted on one hinge leaf and enclosing an axially movable, but frictionally retarded plunger, said plunger being, in turn, operably connected to the other hinge leaf. At least one of the sleeve and plunger are formed of a self-lubricating plastic of the type such as nylon so that despite the fact that the plunger movement is frictionally retarded, such frictional retardation is completely predictable over a long period of useful life and wear of the various components is reduced to a minimum.

It is a further object of our invention to provide a counterbalance hinge of the foregoing simplified and advantageous characteristics which requires absolutely no adjustment, either initially or at any period during the life thereof. By initially forming the sleeve of precalculated resiliently expansible characteristics and the plunger of a precalculated effective diameter relative to the sleeve internal diameter, the counterbalancing or frictional retarding effect of the sleeve and plunger combination on the hinged movement of the hinged leaves is completely predictable at the time of sleeve and plunger original assembly. Thereafter, during the use of the counterbalance hinge, the particular materials chosen including the use of the self-lubricating plastic, reduce wear between the sleeve and plunger to a minimum so that wear does not constitute or create a changing relationship between the sleeve and plunger.

It is also an object of our invention to provide a counterbalance hinge having all of the foregoing attributes and additionally, the unique sleeve and plunger arrangement provides a predetermined counterbalancing or frictionally retarding force over the entire range of hinged movement of the particular hinge incorporating such construction. For example, by forming the sleeve internal diameter throughout the effective axial length thereof with a uniform dimension, and particularly keeping in mind the use of the self-lubricating plastic as hereinbefore discussed, the frictional retardation of the hinged movement of the hinge is exactly the same at any point along such hinged movement. On the other hand, if it is desired to provide a light frictional retarding force during initial periods of hinged movement and an increasing frictional retarding force at other points during such hinged movement, it is only necessary to vary the sleeve internal dimensions in a precalculated and predetermined fashion so as to provide greater and lesser frictional forces at the particular chosen points of hinged movement. As a result, the counterbalance hinge of the present invention provides wide versatility for use in virtually any type of application.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawing which is for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the counterbalance hinge of the present invention hingedly connecting a chest lid to a chest, said lid being shown in open position;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 22 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a reduced, front elevational view of the counterbalance hinge of FIGS. 1 and 2 removed from the chest;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal, sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 55 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a modified form of the counterbalance hinge of FIGS. 1 through 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST EMBODIMENTS CONTEMPLATED Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 of the drawing, an embodiment of the counterbalance hinge of the present invention is shown as including a first hinge leaf, generally indicated at 10, secured to a chest side, generally indicated at 12, and hingedly connected in the usual manner to a second hinge leaf, generally indicated at 14, secured to a chest lid, generally indicated at 16. The first hinge leaf 10 is formed with a main portion 18 abutting an inner vertical surface 20 of the chest side 12 and an integral, right-angle offset portion 22 abutting a top horizontal surface 24 of the chest side, while the second hinge leaf 14 abuts an under surface 26 of the chest lid 16. To the extent thus far described, the first and second hinge leaves 10 and 14 provide a hinge of generally conventional form so as to hingedly connect the chest lid 16 to the chest side 12 for hinged movement between lid horizontal closed position and vertical open position.

More particularly to the principles of the present invention, a resiliently, radially expansible sleeve 28 is positioned on the first hinge leaf 10 generally axially or longitudinally aligned with and directly below the olfset portion 22 and against the main portion 18, preferably being secured thereto by end tabs 29 extending through said main portion and deformed for such securement. In order to accommodate the sleeve 28 in the hereinbefore described mounting of the first and second hinge leaves 10 and 14, said sleeve is received in an appropriate recess 30 of the chest side 12, as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the sleeve 28 is axially aligned generally toward the second hinge leaf 14 and the resilient, radial or transverse expansibility of the sleeve is preferably formed by providing said sleeve axially split and of a resiliently reacting material, preferably spring metal.

An axially movable plunger 32 is telescoped by the sleeve 28 for axial movement within said sleeve and includes an end bifurcated portion 34 pivotally connected to a connecting arm 36. The connecting arm 36 extends from the plunger 32 generally axially through a clearance slot 38 in the offset portion 22 of the first hinge leaf 10 and is also pivotally connected to a mounting member 40 secured to the second hinge leaf 14. By virtue of such pivotal connection, therefore, the plunger 32 is required to move axially along the sleeve 28 in predicted movement 4 throughout the entire hinged movement between the first and second hinge leaves 10 and 14.

The plunger 32 is formed with radial outer dimensions slightly larger than the normal internal radial dimensions of the sleeve 28 so that the sleeve will exert a radially inward resilient force against the plunger creating a frictional retarding force against plunger axial movement. Furthermore, and of importance to the principles of the present invention, at least one of the sleeves 28 and plunger 32 is formed of a self-lubricating plastic, such as nylon. In this case, in view of the sleeve 28 being formed of spring metal, the plunger 32 is formed of said selflubricating plastic.

Thus, due to the self-lubricating and long wearing qualities of the self-lubricating plastic, by proper selection of the dimensions of the sleeve 28 and plunger 32, the frictional retardation of the plunger during axial movement along the sleeve is completely predictable, both initially and after a relatively long period of use. Furthermore, such frictional retardation may be chosen relatively light or of any intensity desired, all dependent on the relative dimensions of the sleeve 28 and plunger 32, as well as the resilient characteristics of the material of the sleeve. As a result, the counterbalancing or frictional retardation of the hinged movement of the chest lid 16 on the chest side 12 may readily be predetermined in the manner well known to those skilled in the art.

In the particular embodiment of counterbalance hinge shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, the internal dimensions of the sleeve 28 are uniform throughout the axial extent thereof so that the frictional retardation of the movement of the plunger 32 is virtually the same throughout the hinged movement of the chest lid 16 relative to the chest side 12. If, however, it is desired to provide changing frictional retardation along the extent of such hinged movement, the sleeve may be formed as a changing diameter sleeve 42, as illustrated in the modified form of FIG. 6, wherein both the sleeve 42 and a plunger 44 are downwardly tapered. In the particular form shown in FIG. 6, the frictional retardation will increase as the plunger 44 moves downwardly in the sleeve 42, so that the frictional retardation of hinged movement of a chest lid would increase as the lid moved toward horizontal closed position, although it is obvious that any selected combination of changing diameters could be provided for providing any desired pattern of changing frictional retardation, all within the scope of the present invention.

Thus, according to the principles of the present invention, we have provided a counterbalance hinge of extremely simple construction, yet of completely predictable characteristics. By a proper selection of the relative dimensions of the counterbalancing elements, it is possible to provide predicted counterbalancing reactions throughout the hinged movement. Furthermore, the predictability of such counterbalancing characteristics is greatly augmented by the fact that at least one of the relatively movable parts thereof is formed of a long wearing, self-lubricating plastic, the self-lubricating features giving both predictability and smoothness of movement.

We claim:

1. In a counterbalance hinge, the combination of: a first hinge leaf; a second hinge leaf hingedly connected to said first hinge leaf; a unitary, generally longitudinally split, transversely expansible, spring material sleeve secured to said first hinge leaf with the longitudinal axis thereof toward said second hinge leaf; a plunger telescoped by said sleeve movable longitudinally along said sleeve, said plunger being dimensioned relative to said sleeve creating a transverse frictional force between said plunger and sleeve substantially throughout movement of said plunger along said sleeve; at least one of said plunger and sleeve being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; and means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf for movement of said plunger longitudinally of said sleeve during hinged movement between said first and second hinge leaves to provide frictional retardation of said hinged movement substantially throughout said hinged movement.

2. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 1 in which said sleeve is formed of spring metal; and in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic.

3. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 1 in which one of said hinge leaves includes an offset portion offsetting a major part of said one hinge leaf from the other of said hinge leaves; and in which said means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf is connected through said one hinge leaf offset portion.

4. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 1 in which said sleeve is formed of spring metal and is secured to said first hinge leaf adjacent an offset portion of said first hinge leaf; in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic; and in which said means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf includes means connected through an opening in said offset portion of said first hinge leaf.

5. In a counterbalance hinge, the combination of: a unitary, resiliently transversely expansible sleeve; a plunger telescoped by said sleeve longitudinally movable within said sleeve, said plunger being dimensioned relative to said sleeve exerting a transverse frictional force on said sleeve substantially throughout movement of said plunger within said sleeve; at least one of said plunger and sleeve being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; first and second hingedly connected hinge leaves; and means operably connecting said sleeve to said first hinge leaf and said plunger to said second hinge leaf for longitudinal movement of said plunger in said sleeve upon hinged movement between said hinge leaves to provide frictional retardation of said hinged movement substantially throughout said hinged movement.

6. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 5 in which said sleeve is a generally longitudinally split sleeve formed of spring metal; and in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic.

7. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 5 in which said sleeve is a generally longitudinally split sleeve formed of spring metal; in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic; and in which said means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf includes an elongated connecting member pivotally connected between said plunger and said second hinge leaf.

8. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 5 in which said sleeve is a generally longitudinally split sleeve formed of spring metal mounted on said first hinge leaf adjacent an offset portion of said first hinge leaf; in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic; and in which said means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf includes an elongated member extending through an opening in said offset portion of said first hinge leaf and pivotally connected to each of said plunger and said second hinge leaf.

9. A counterbalance hinge as defined in claim 5 in which said sleeve is a generally longitudinally split sleeve formed of spring metal; in which said sleeve is connected to said first hinge leaf by end connected tabs secured to said first hinge leaf; in which said plunger is formed of said self-lubricating plastic; and in which said means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf includes an elongated connecting member pivotally connected between said plunger and said second hinge leaf.

10. In a counterbalance hinge, the combination of: a first hinge leaf; a second hinge leaf hingedly connected to said first hinge leaf; a generally longitudinally split, spring material sleeve secured to said first hinge leaf with the longitudinal axis thereof toward said second hinge leaf, said sleeve including varying internal transverse dimensions along the longitudinal length thereof; a plunger telescoped by said sleeve movable longitudinally along said sleeve, said plunger being dimensioned relative to said sleeve creating a radial frictional force between said plunger and sleeve; at least one of said plunger and sleeve being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; and means operably connecting said plunger to said second hinge leaf for movement of said plunger longitudinally of said sleeve during hinged movement between said first and second hinge leaves to provide selected varying frictional retardation of said hinged movement along said sleeve longitudinal length.

11. In a counterbalance hinge, the combination of: a resiliently transversely expansible sleeve formed with selected, permanently varying, internal transverse dimensions along a longitudinal length thereof; a plunger telescoped by said sleeve longitudinally movable within said sleeve, said plunger being dimensioned relative to said sleeve exerting a transverse frictional force on said sleeve; at least one of said plunger and sleeve being formed of a self-lubricating plastic; first and second hingedly connected hinge leaves; and means operably connecting said sleeve to said first hinge leaf and said plunger to said second hinge leaf for longitudinal movement of said plunger in said sleeve upon hinged movement between said hinge leaves to provide selected varying frictional retardation of said hinged movement during said movement.

12. In a counterbalance hinge, the combination of: a resiliently transversely expansible, generally longitudinally split sleeve formed of spring metal; a plunger of selflubricating plastic telescoped by said sleeve longitudinally movable within said sleeve, said plunger being dimensioned relative to said sleeve exerting a transverse frictional force on said sleeve; first and second hingedly connected hinge leaves; and means operably connecting said sleeve to said first hinge leaf and said plunger to said second hinge leaf for longitudinally movement of said plunger in said sleeve upon hinged movement between said hinge leaves to provide frictional retardation of said hinged movement including end connected tabs on said sleeve extending through and secured to said first hinge leaf mounting said sleeve adjacent an offset portion of said first hinge leaf, an elongated member extending through an opening in said offset portion of said first hinge leaf and pivotally connected to each of said plunger and said second hinge leaf.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/1931 Toncrary .16-82 6/1955 Magnuson 16141 

